Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
ATCP 10-19 - Animal Health
Chapter ATCP 16 - Dog Sellers And Dog Facility Operators
Section ATCP 16.22 - Dogs kept indoors

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง ATCP 16.22

Current through August 26, 2024

The following requirements apply to an indoor facility at which a person keeps dogs pursuant to a license under s. ATCP 16.02(1):

(1) PRIMARY ENCLOSURES; GENERAL.

(a) Size and configuration. An indoor primary enclosure shall comply with sub. (2) or (3), except that a whelping enclosure shall comply with s. ATCP 16.20(7) and a nursery enclosure shall comply with s. ATCP 16.20(8).

(am) General structure and maintenance. The primary enclosure shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the dog from injury.

(b) Floors and interior surfaces. Floors and interior surfaces of an indoor primary enclosure shall comply with all of the following standards:
1. Dirt floors are prohibited.

2. A floor, other than a floor in the portion of a whelping enclosure that is accessible to puppies, may be constructed of metal wire mesh. The wire shall be coated with an acceptable material to prevent injury to the dogs' feet. The wire shall be of an adequate gauge to prevent sagging under the weight of the dog or dogs kept in the enclosure, and to prevent injury to the dogs' feet.

Note: Stainless steel slatting is not wire mesh.

3. Floor openings, if any, shall be small enough to prevent the feet of the smallest dog kept in the enclosure from passing through or becoming entangled in the openings.

4. Floors and other interior surfaces shall be constructed and maintained to keep the dog clean, dry, and safe from injury. Surfaces shall be regularly cleaned and sanitized.

(c) Stacking primary enclosures. No indoor primary enclosure may be stacked on top of any other indoor primary enclosure unless the stacking arrangement complies with all of the following:
1. The floor of the top enclosure shall be no higher than 52 inches from the floor of the room in which the enclosures are stacked.

2. The stacking arrangement shall provide for safe dog handling, adequate ventilation and temperature control, easy cleaning and sanitization, and easy inspection of all stacked enclosures.

3. Each stacked enclosure shall have a fully ventilated front side and a solid floor or floor with a solid catch pan that can be easily cleaned and sanitized.

4. The stacked enclosures shall be stable when filled to maximum capacity with dogs.

5. No dog in any of the stacked enclosures may be exposed to any excreta, urine, dirt, or debris falling from a higher enclosure.

(2) PRIMARY ENCLOSURE FOR ONE OR MORE DOGS THAT GET AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EACH DAY. A primary enclosure under this subsection shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(a) The floor area of the primary enclosure shall be at least equal to the sum of the floor areas under pars. (b) and (c), where each dog's length is measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail.

(b) For the largest dog in the primary enclosure, the primary enclosure shall include a floor area at least equal to the following:
1. For a dog up to 10 inches long, 4.5 square feet.

2. For a dog 11 to 16 inches long, 8 square feet.

3. For a dog 17 to 22 inches long, 12 square feet.

4. For a dog 23 to 26 inches long, 18 square feet.

5. For a dog 27 to 30 inches long, 24 square feet.

6. For a dog more than 30 inches long, 30 square feet.

(c) For each additional dog in the primary enclosure, other than the dog under par. (b), the primary enclosure shall include a floor area at least equal to the following:
1. For a dog up to 10 inches long, 3.375 square feet.

2. For a dog 11 to 16 inches long, 6 square feet.

3. For a dog 17 to 22 inches long, 9 square feet.

4. For a dog 23 to 26 inches long, 13.5 square feet.

5. For a dog 27 to 30 inches long, 18 square feet.

6. For a dog more than 30 inches long, 22.5 square feet.

(d) The height of the primary enclosure shall be at least 12 inches taller than the tallest dog in the enclosure.

(e) Each dog kept in the primary enclosure shall have access for at least 30 minutes each day to an indoor or outdoor run or exercise area that meets the requirements under s. ATCP 16.20(10).

Note: A primary enclosure may also function as a run or exercise area if it complies with par. (e).

(3) PRIMARY ENCLOSURE FOR ONE DOG THAT GETS AT LEAST 120 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EACH DAY. A primary enclosure under this subsection shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(a) No more than one dog may be kept in the primary enclosure at any time.

(b) The floor area of the primary enclosure shall be based on the length of the dog kept in the enclosure. The floor area shall be at least equal to the following, where the length of the dog is measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail:
1. For a dog up to 10 inches long, 4 square feet.

2. For a dog 11 to 16 inches long, 6 square feet.

3. For a dog 17 to 22 inches long, 10 square feet.

4. For a dog 23 to 26 inches long, 14 square feet.

5. For a dog 27 to 30 inches long, 18 square feet.

6. For a dog more than 30 inches long, 20 square feet.

(c) The height of the primary enclosure shall be at least 12 inches taller than the dog that is kept in the enclosure.

(d) The dog kept in the primary enclosure shall have access for at least 120 minutes each day to an indoor or outdoor run or exercise area that meets the requirements under s. ATCP 16.20(10).

(7) LIGHTING, TEMPERATURE AND VENTILATION.

(a) An indoor facility shall have well-distributed natural or artificial light that is adequate for proper care, maintenance and inspection of the facility and of all dogs kept in the facility. All areas in which dogs are kept shall have a diurnal lighting cycle.

(b) An indoor facility shall have adequate heating and cooling, and shall be heated at a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The indoor facility shall be heated or cooled as necessary to keep temperatures within appropriate limits, based on the dog breeds kept at the facility and the ability of those breeds to acclimate to temperature variation. Dogs shall be protected from heat, cold and humidity that may be injurious to their health.

(c) An indoor facility shall be adequately ventilated with fresh or filtered air to maintain the health and comfort of all dogs and to minimize odors, drafts, ammonia levels and moisture condensation. The facility shall provide an exchange of air between indoor areas where dogs are kept and the outdoors.

(8) CLEANING AND SANITATION.

(a) Excreta shall be removed from primary enclosures, exercise areas, and other dog holding areas at least daily, and more often as necessary for the health and comfort of all dogs.

(am) Pests and parasites shall be controlled as necessary to maintain dog health and comfort.

(b) Primary enclosures and other dog holding areas shall be cleaned with an appropriate detergent, rinsed, and sanitized with an appropriate sanitizer, as often as necessary but at least once a week to keep them free of accumulated dirt, debris, and disease hazards.

(c) A primary enclosure shall be cleaned and sanitized before any new dog is placed in the enclosure.

(d) Dogs shall be removed from primary enclosures or other dog holding areas before those areas are cleaned and sanitized. Dogs may not be returned to the cleaned or sanitized enclosure or area until the enclosure or area is dry.

(e) All dogs shall have clean, dry and breed-appropriate bedding, or shall have a solid resting place that is appropriate for the dog's breed, age, health and physical condition, unless alternative special arrangements are necessary for the dog's health and safety.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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